Lavender perfumes: 16 to try, from classic fougère to sweet and floral
What sits beside the lavender decides how a lavender perfume reads. This guide groups 16 of them by style, from the classic fougère to sweet, floral, fresh and dark, and shows how to try each in 3ml.
Lavender perfumes to try, by style
Sixteen perfumes in five styles, in the order the guide presents them.
- 1Best overall
Lavender and bergamot over cedar, vetiver and patchouli, with sandalwood, musk and guaiac wood below.
from €11.613 ml
- 2
Bergamot and lavender over sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and ambergris.
from €11.433 ml
Read the pick - 3Best for summer
Lavender and bitter orange over mint and clary sage, with ambrette and ambroxan.
from €7.833 ml
Read the pick - 4Best value
Lavender among citrus and herbs, over cedar and patchouli, with leather, oakmoss and tonka bean below.
from €7.113 ml
Read the pick - 5
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense
Lavender and mandarin orange over jasmine sambac and two vanillas, with coumarin and sandalwood.
from €8.643 ml
Read the pick
Show all 16 picks
- 6
Orange blossom, then lavender and ylang-ylang, over amber, vanilla and white musk.
from €15.933 ml
- 7
Clary sage, incense and lavender over bourbon vanilla and orris, with amberwood and ink.
from €15.843 ml
- 8
Lavender and black currant over orange blossom and jasmine, with Madagascar vanilla and cedar.
from €8.373 ml
- 9
Vanilla, lavender, cacao and ginger over vanilla caviar.
from €12.783 ml
Read the pick - 10
Lavender and neroli over tuberose and orange blossom, with tobacco, rum and patchouli.
from €9.363 ml
Read the pick - 11
Citrus, neroli, lavender and rosemary over rose and verbena, with sandalwood and musk.
from €7.563 ml
- 12
Soap and pink pepper over jasmine, lavender and rose, with coconut and white musk.
from €8.013 ml
Read the pick - 13
Citrus and pink pepper over lavender, rosemary and sage, with sandalwood and frankincense.
from €11.613 ml
Read the pick - 14Best for winter
Anise and cardamom over tobacco and lavender, with myrrh, vanilla and agarwood.
from €13.773 ml
Read the pick - 15Best leather pick
Lavender and nutmeg flower over violet leaf, with leather, vetiver and tonka bean.
from €8.913 ml
Read the pick - 16Best oud pick
Rosewood and lavender over geranium and rose, with agarwood, leather and labdanum.
from €12.963 ml
In this guide
A good lavender perfume starts clean and herbal, then takes its character from what sits beside the lavender. Rehab by Initio Parfums Prives sets it against cedar and vetiver, while Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense by Guerlain wraps it in vanilla. Below, 16 lavender perfumes are grouped by style: classic fougère, sweet, floral, fresh and dark.
Lavender appears in the notes of all 16, and each comes in 3ml and 10ml. Find the style you like, then try two as 3ml decants before you commit to a bottle.
Quick comparison
| # | Perfume | Label | Main notes | Lasts | Trail | Season | 3 ml | 10 ml | per ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RehabInitio Parfums Privés | Best overall | Cedar, Patchouli, Vetiver | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn | €11.61 | €32.49 | €3.25 |
| 2 | Bois du PortugalCreed | Lavender | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €11.43 | €34.65 | €3.47 | |
| 3 | Luna RossaPrada | Best for summer | Clary Sage, Mint | Moderate | Moderate | Summer, Spring | €7.83 | €22.86 | €2.29 |
| 4 | Azzaro pour HommeAzzaro | Best value | Cardamom, Cedar, Juniper Berries | Long lasting | Strong | Autumn | €7.11 | €19.89 | €1.99 |
| 5 | Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum IntenseGuerlain | Iris, Jasmine Sambac, Madagascar Vanilla | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €8.64 | €26.19 | €2.62 | |
| 6 | APOMMaison Francis Kurkdjian | Lavender, Ylang-Ylang | Long lasting | Strong | Spring, Autumn | €15.93 | €43.29 | €4.33 | |
| 7 | MuseYves Saint Laurent | Ambrette, Bourbon Vanilla, Orris | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn | €15.84 | €47.88 | €4.79 | |
| 8 | LibreYves Saint Laurent | Jasmine, Orange Blossom | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn | €8.37 | €24.21 | €2.42 | |
| 9 | GoddessBurberry | Vanilla Caviar | Moderate | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €12.78 | €38.61 | €3.86 | |
| 10 | L'Interdit AbsoluGivenchy | Indian Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, Orange Blossom | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €9.36 | €27.18 | €2.72 | |
| 11 | ColoniaAcqua di Parma | Rose, Verbena | Moderate | Moderate | Summer, Spring | €7.56 | €20.07 | €2.01 | |
| 12 | Bubble BathMaison Margiela | Jasmine, Lavender, Rose | Moderate | Moderate | Spring, Summer | €8.01 | €25.11 | €2.51 | |
| 13 | Viking CologneCreed | Geranium, Lavender, Nutmeg | Moderate | Moderate | Summer, Spring | €11.61 | €32.40 | €3.24 | |
| 14 | Opus XIV Royal TobaccoAmouage | Best for winter | Fenugreek, Lavender, Licorice | Long lasting | Strong | Winter | €13.77 | €39.33 | €3.93 |
| 15 | FahrenheitDior | Best leather pick | Carnation, Honeysuckle, Jasmine | Long lasting | Strong | Winter, Autumn | €8.91 | €24.21 | €2.42 |
| 16 | ImperialBoadicea the Victorious | Best oud pick | Freesia, Geranium, Jasmine | Long lasting | Strong | Winter, Autumn | €12.96 | €38.25 | €3.83 |
Show all 16 picks
Community votes
What lavender smells like in perfume
Lavender is a flowering plant of the sage family, native to the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean coast. Its English name dates from the 13th century and is thought to come from the Latin for "to wash", after the blue infusions of the plant once used for bathing. Lavender oil is distilled from the flower spikes.
Not all lavender smells the same. English lavender gives an oil with sweet overtones, while lavandin, a related plant, gives a sharper, more camphor-like one. In a perfume, the notes around it then decide whether lavender reads fresh, sweet, floral or dark.
We list every lavender perfume we stock on the lavender note page. This guide does something different: it sorts 16 of them by the company lavender keeps.
The fougère, lavender's classic chord
Fougère is French for fern. Wikipedia's fougère entry says the top is sweet, with the scent of lavender flowers, and that oakmoss and coumarin, close to new-mown hay, surface as the lighter notes fade. The name comes from Houbigant's Fougère Royale.
Coumarin takes its name from the French word for the tonka bean, and it has been part of the fougère since Fougère Royale in 1882. The same entry says the family is especially popular in men's perfume. Our guide to fragrance families places the fougère beside the other families, and the oakmoss note page lists the perfumes that carry oakmoss.
Lavender at the centre: aromatic and fougère
These four keep lavender at the core, with citrus, wood and herbs around it. The last of them is a fougère by its maker's own account.
Rehab by Initio Parfums Prives
Rehab by Initio Parfums Prives is a niche perfume from 2018. Lavender and bergamot lead, cedar, vetiver and patchouli follow in the heart, and sandalwood, musk and guaiac wood sit underneath. Its accords lead with woody and aromatic, and Initio says all its perfumes are unisex.
Rehab draws longevity votes for long lasting first, moderate second. Most voters call its sillage moderate. Voters pick it for autumn and spring, by day or at the office.
Bois du Portugal by Creed
- Top notes
- Bergamot
- Heart notes
- Lavender
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Cedar, Sandalwood, Vetiver
- Time of day
- Office
Bois du Portugal by Creed is a niche perfume for men, launched in 1987. Bergamot opens it, lavender forms the heart, and sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and ambergris make the base.
Long lasting is how most community voters judge its longevity. Most voters put its sillage at moderate. Voters pick it for autumn and winter, for the office, the day or the evening.
Luna Rossa by Prada
- Top notes
- Bitter Orange, Lavender
- Heart notes
- Clary Sage, Mint
- Base notes
- Ambrette (Musk Mallow)
- Time of day
- Daytime
Luna Rossa by Prada is a 2012 perfume for men. Lavender and bitter orange open it. Mint and clary sage make the heart, and ambrette and ambroxan sit underneath.
Most voters say moderate on longevity for Luna Rossa. Most voters rate its sillage moderate as well. Summer and spring lead the season votes, by day or at the office.
Azzaro pour Homme by Azzaro
- Top notes
- Basil, Bergamot, Caraway, Clary Sage
- Heart notes
- Cardamom, Cedar, Juniper Berries, Patchouli
- Base notes
- Amber, Leather, Musk, Oakmoss
- Time of day
- Night out
Azzaro pour Homme by Azzaro is a fougère by its maker's own account: Azzaro places it in the "fougère aromatic woody" family and dates it to 1978. Wikipedia's fougère entry names it as an example too. Its long note list runs from basil, bergamot, caraway, clary sage, iris, lavender and lemon at the top, through cardamom, cedar, juniper berries, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver, to amber, leather, musk, oakmoss and tonka bean.
Community votes on Azzaro pour Homme put longevity at long lasting first. The sillage vote runs strong, then moderate. Voters favour autumn and winter, and night, evening and day.
Sweet lavender: vanilla and amber
Here lavender meets vanilla, with amber, amberwood or benzoin beneath. Our guide to tonka perfumes shows a related sweet turn built on another base note.
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense by Guerlain
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Lavender, Mandarin Orange
- Heart notes
- Iris, Jasmine Sambac, Madagascar Vanilla, Rose
- Base notes
- Australian Sandalwood, Benzoin, Coumarin, Licorice
- Time of day
- Night out
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense by Guerlain launched in 2019 for women. Guerlain builds the Mon Guerlain line on four ingredients, lavender, jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood, and takes its lavender from Provence. Lavender, mandarin orange and bergamot open it, and jasmine sambac, two vanillas, iris and rose form the heart. Coumarin, patchouli, licorice, benzoin, sandalwood and white musk close it. The vanilla note page shows what else carries vanilla.
The coumarin ties it to the fougère. Votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Votes on sillage lean moderate, then strong. Voters pick it for autumn and winter, for night or evening.
APOM by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
APOM by Maison Francis Kurkdjian is a niche, unisex Eau de Parfum from 2024. Orange blossom opens it, lavender and ylang-ylang sit in the heart, and amber, vanilla and white musk finish it.
Most voters rate APOM long lasting on longevity. Its sillage votes lean strong. Voters spread it across all four seasons, and across day, office, evening and night.
Muse by Yves Saint Laurent
Muse by Yves Saint Laurent is a unisex Eau de Parfum from 2025. Clary sage, incense and lavender open it, ambrette, bourbon vanilla and orris form the heart, and amberwood and ink close it.
Most voters call Muse long lasting on longevity. Most voters call its sillage moderate. It is an autumn and winter pick for voters, by day or in the evening.
Floral lavender
Two of these pair lavender with orange blossom, jasmine or tuberose. The third keeps lavender as its only flower and wraps it in vanilla.
Libre by Yves Saint Laurent
Libre by Yves Saint Laurent launched in 2019 for women. It opens on mandarin orange, black currant, petitgrain and lavender. Orange blossom and jasmine sit in the heart. Madagascar vanilla, musk, cedar and ambergris end it. Wikipedia's fougère entry lists it among the unisex and female fougères.
Libre is voted long lasting, then moderate, for longevity. Its sillage votes lean moderate. Autumn and spring are the seasons voters pick, for evening, day or night.
Goddess by Burberry
- Top notes
- Cacao, Ginger, Lavender, Vanilla
- Heart notes
- Vanilla Caviar
- Base notes
- Vanilla Absolute
- Time of day
- Evening
Goddess by Burberry is a 2023 perfume for women. Vanilla, lavender, cacao and ginger open it, then vanilla caviar fills the heart and more vanilla the base. With vanilla in every layer of its notes, the lavender here reads against a sweet backdrop.
Most voters call Goddess moderate on longevity. On sillage, too, the majority vote is moderate. Voters pick it for autumn and winter, for evening or night.
L'Interdit Absolu by Givenchy
- Top notes
- Guatemalan Cardamom, Lavender, Neroli
- Heart notes
- Indian Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, Orange Blossom
- Base notes
- Haitian Vetiver, Patchouli, Rum, Tobacco
- Time of day
- Night out
L'Interdit Absolu by Givenchy launched in 2024 for women. Lavender, neroli and Guatemalan cardamom open it, Indian tuberose, jasmine sambac and orange blossom form the heart, and tobacco, rum, patchouli and Haitian vetiver close it.
For L'Interdit Absolu, longevity votes lean long lasting, then moderate. Sillage votes lean moderate. Autumn and winter are its seasons by the vote, with night and evening its occasions.
Fresh, citrus and clean lavender
Here lavender meets citrus, soap and herbs. For more in this mood, see our guide to clean perfumes.
Colonia by Acqua di Parma
Colonia by Acqua di Parma is a niche, unisex perfume from 1916. Citrus, neroli, lavender and rosemary open it, rose and verbena form the heart, and sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver and musk sit below.
For Colonia, community votes on longevity lean moderate, then weak. Sillage votes lean moderate, then intimate. Voters pick it for summer and spring days.
Bubble Bath by Maison Margiela
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Soap
- Heart notes
- Jasmine, Lavender, Rose
- Base notes
- Coconut, Patchouli, White Musk
- Time of day
- Daytime
Bubble Bath by Maison Margiela is a 2020 unisex perfume. Bergamot, pink pepper and soap open it, jasmine, lavender and rose form the heart, and coconut, patchouli and white musk close it. Its accords read fresh, soapy and clean.
Bubble Bath is voted moderate, then long lasting, for longevity. Its sillage votes lean moderate. Spring and summer days are when voters pick it.
Viking Cologne by Creed
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper
- Heart notes
- Geranium, Lavender, Nutmeg, Rosemary
- Base notes
- Cedar, Frankincense, Patchouli, Sandalwood
- Time of day
- Daytime
Viking Cologne by Creed is a niche, unisex perfume from 2021. Bergamot, lemon, mandarin orange and pink pepper open it. Geranium, lavender, nutmeg, rosemary and sage form the heart, and sandalwood, frankincense, patchouli, cedar and vetiver close it.
Viking Cologne draws moderate votes first on longevity, long lasting second. Its sillage votes lean moderate, then strong. Voters pick it for summer, spring and autumn, by day.
Dark lavender: leather, oud and tobacco
Here lavender meets tobacco, agarwood, leather and labdanum. Leather runs through two of the three.
Opus XIV Royal Tobacco by Amouage
- Top notes
- Anise, Basil, Bergamot, Cardamom
- Heart notes
- Fenugreek, Lavender, Licorice, Orange Blossom
- Base notes
- Agarwood (Oud), Benzoin, Birch Tar, Bourbon Vanilla
- Time of day
- Night out
Opus XIV Royal Tobacco by Amouage is a niche perfume for men from 2022. Anise, cardamom, bergamot, olibanum and basil open it. Tobacco, licorice, fenugreek, lavender, osmanthus, orange blossom and rose form the heart. Myrrh, bourbon vanilla, birch tar, benzoin, agarwood, labdanum and musk are among the base notes.
Most community voters rate Opus XIV Royal Tobacco long lasting. Most voters call its sillage strong. Winter is the season voters pick, for night or evening.
Fahrenheit by Dior
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Cedar, Chamomile, Hawthorn
- Heart notes
- Carnation, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley
- Base notes
- Amber, Leather, Musk, Patchouli
- Time of day
- Night out
Fahrenheit by Dior launched in 1988 for men, composed by Jean-Louis Sieuzac, Maurice Roger and Michel Almairac. Nutmeg flower, lavender, cedar, mandarin orange, chamomile and bergamot open it. Violet leaf, sandalwood, carnation, honeysuckle and jasmine form the heart, and leather, vetiver, musk, amber and tonka bean close it.
For Fahrenheit, community votes on longevity lean long lasting, then eternal. Its sillage votes run strong, then enormous. Voters pick it for winter and autumn, for night, evening or day.
Imperial by Boadicea The Victorious
Imperial by Boadicea The Victorious is a niche, unisex perfume from 2012, composed by Christian Provenzano. Brazilian rosewood, lavender, birch and angelica open it. Geranium, rose, freesia and jasmine form the heart. Agarwood, guaiac wood, labdanum, leather, amber and sandalwood sit at the base.
The community votes Imperial long lasting first, eternal second, on longevity. Its sillage votes lean strong, then moderate. Winter and autumn are its seasons by the vote, for night or evening.
Lavender perfume for men and for women
Five of these are listed for men: Bois du Portugal, Luna Rossa, Azzaro pour Homme, Opus XIV Royal Tobacco and Fahrenheit. Browse more in our men's perfume range.
Four are listed for women: Mon Guerlain Intense, Libre, Goddess and L'Interdit Absolu. The other seven, Rehab, APOM, Muse, Colonia, Bubble Bath, Viking Cologne and Imperial, are unisex, so lavender is far from only a men's note.
The lavender map at a glance
| Style | Perfumes | What the lavender meets | Seasons voters pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aromatic and fougère | Rehab, Bois du Portugal, Luna Rossa, Azzaro pour Homme | Cedar, vetiver, bergamot, oakmoss | Autumn for three; spring for two |
| Sweet lavender | Mon Guerlain Intense, APOM, Muse | Vanilla, amber, orange blossom | Autumn and winter; all four for APOM |
| Floral lavender | Libre, Goddess, L'Interdit Absolu | Orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, vanilla | Autumn for all three; winter for two |
| Fresh, citrus and clean | Colonia, Bubble Bath, Viking Cologne | Citrus, soap, rosemary, rose | Spring and summer; autumn too for Viking Cologne |
| Dark lavender | Opus XIV Royal Tobacco, Fahrenheit, Imperial | Leather, tobacco, agarwood, birch | Winter; autumn too for two |
Try a classic and a sweet lavender in 3ml
Pair a classic lavender with a sweet one and order a 3ml decant of both. At around 60 sprays each, you can wear them on alternate days for a week or so. If you want to know how we fill them, read what a perfume decant is.
For the classic side, Bois du Portugal in 3ml is €11.43. For the sweet side, Mon Guerlain Intense in 3ml is €8.64. If one convinces you, the 10ml size holds around 200 sprays, enough for weeks of daily wear.
Unsure how to judge a scent you have not smelled? Read our advice on choosing a perfume without smelling it. For a softer, powdery direction, see our guide to powdery perfumes.
Frequently asked questions
- What does lavender smell like in perfume?
- Clean, herbal and a little floral. English lavender gives an oil with sweet overtones, while lavandin is sharper and more camphor-like. What sits beside it, such as vanilla, citrus or leather, decides how the perfume reads.
- What is a fougère perfume?
- A fougère is a perfume family that pairs lavender with oakmoss and coumarin, a note close to the scent of new-mown hay. It takes its name from Houbigant's Fougère Royale of 1882, and Wikipedia notes the family is especially popular in men's perfume.
- Is lavender perfume for men or for women?
- For both. We list Mon Guerlain Intense, Libre, Goddess and L'Interdit Absolu for women, and Bois du Portugal, Luna Rossa, Azzaro pour Homme, Opus XIV Royal Tobacco and Fahrenheit for men. Rehab, APOM, Muse, Colonia, Bubble Bath, Viking Cologne and Imperial are unisex.
- Which lavender perfumes are sweet?
- Mon Guerlain Intense, APOM and Muse are the sweet ones in this guide, each built on vanilla with amber, amberwood or benzoin beneath. Goddess is sweet too, with vanilla in every layer of its notes.
- Can I try a lavender perfume in a small size?
- Yes. A 3ml decant gives around 60 sprays and a 10ml decant around 200. Bois du Portugal in 3ml is €11.43.
Sources
Wear it for a week, not ten seconds.
Designer and niche fragrances in 10ml decants, so you can live with a scent before you commit.
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